Hunters are reminded

Hunters must now return their questionnaire card within 15 days of the close of the season for which the tag was issued.

Those report cards must be received by no later than 5 p.m. on that deadline day.

This requirement applies whether or not a hunter hunted or was successful in harvesting an animal.

Tag holders who fail to return the questionnaire or who fail to meet the required deadline will be subjected to a $50 fine or face the loss of tag draw privileges for one year.

Information gathered from those questionnaires plays a vital role in NDOW's management decisions, especially those pertaining to tag quotas and season dates.

According to NDOW, the questionnaire's main purpose is to gather information concerning hunters success and how specific animal species, such as deer or elk are faring in a particular area.

The data collected from the questionnaires is more than a measure of success. It is also a method of identifying population and behavioral patterns or problem areas that possibly haven't been detected in other data gathering processes.

For information, call NDOW at 688-1500 during regular business hours.